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TORONTO (Reuters) - A U.N. report showing Canadians use more marijuana than people in any other industrialized country is more evidence that the drug should be legalized, activists said on Tuesday.
The 2007 World Drug Report found that 16.8 percent of Canadians between 15 and 64 used marijuana, otherwise known as cannabis or pot, at least once in the past year, four times more than the global average of 3.8 percent.
That compared to an average 10.7 percent in North America and 5.6 percent in Europe, said the report, issued by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in late June.
"This shows people are more open about it. They don't see anything wrong with it," said Robin Ellins, whose shop in downtown Toronto sells products as diverse as cannabis lollipops and T-shirts made of hemp, as well as a wide range of smoking accessories.
Ellins said he and other activists have been trying to push the government to legalize marijuana smoking for years. He said the report adds fresh momentum to their campaign.
"Smoking marijuana is safer than drinking coffee and less harmful than alcohol and tobacco," he said.
Cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug in the world with 160 million people using it at least once in 2005, the U.N. report said.
Papua New Guinea topped the marijuana list with 29.5 percent of the population using it, followed by Micronesia, Ghana, Zambia and Canada, according to the annual finding.
Canadian media report that the number of people arrested for smoking marijuana rose dramatically in several Canadian cities last year after the Conservatives took office and killed a bill to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.
Laws on possession of marijuana in Canada are generally more relaxed than those in the United States.
The 2007 World Drug Report found that 16.8 percent of Canadians between 15 and 64 used marijuana, otherwise known as cannabis or pot, at least once in the past year, four times more than the global average of 3.8 percent.
That compared to an average 10.7 percent in North America and 5.6 percent in Europe, said the report, issued by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in late June.
"This shows people are more open about it. They don't see anything wrong with it," said Robin Ellins, whose shop in downtown Toronto sells products as diverse as cannabis lollipops and T-shirts made of hemp, as well as a wide range of smoking accessories.
Ellins said he and other activists have been trying to push the government to legalize marijuana smoking for years. He said the report adds fresh momentum to their campaign.
"Smoking marijuana is safer than drinking coffee and less harmful than alcohol and tobacco," he said.
Cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug in the world with 160 million people using it at least once in 2005, the U.N. report said.
Papua New Guinea topped the marijuana list with 29.5 percent of the population using it, followed by Micronesia, Ghana, Zambia and Canada, according to the annual finding.
Canadian media report that the number of people arrested for smoking marijuana rose dramatically in several Canadian cities last year after the Conservatives took office and killed a bill to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.
Laws on possession of marijuana in Canada are generally more relaxed than those in the United States.
PS-MARVIN LOVES SPLIT SALAD !! 
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